When Lance Vardon sat down to play the piano with Stevie Wonder nearly 10 years ago after his family was featured on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” his mother, Judy, couldn’t hear him, but she did see the glimmer on her son’s face.

At that moment, Judy said she decided to dedicate herself to sharing her son’s gift, even though she couldn’t appreciate it.

Lance’s love of music — before it was publicized on television and ever since — has helped him overcome challenges and has helped him function better in his everyday life, those close to him say.
“I can see people’s face(s) while they watch Lance (as a) performer,” shared Judy, who is deaf, in an email.

Some tear up, some smile, some seem very concerned, she said, but that’s God’s gift Lance gives to people.

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Lance is blind, autistic and plays the piano for the Berkley High School orchestra — an endeavor he has undertaken since middle school. He can’t see the keys while playing, but this hasn’t stopped him from learning by ear, becoming the pianist for his school’s concert orchestra and visiting New York City and Washington, D.C. with the ensemble. Both times, the orchestra won national awards for orchestra competitions.

This particular 22-year-old has a severe case of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in interaction and communication. His parents, Judy and Larry, are both deaf. He came up through the Berkley school system and is currently transitioning to Berkley’s post-high school program for special needs students 18 to 26 years old.

Lance’s music therapist, Lisa Barnett, said Lance continues to amaze. Barnett has worked with him since he was a child and said his love of music has led to enhanced socialization for the autistic patient, who sometimes twitches when touched by strangers.

“Where words fail, music gets through,” said Barnett, who’s been in music therapy since graduating from Michigan State University in 1981. “It’s been a little odyssey with Lance, but music has been a tool to bring him out of his isolation.”

His list of activities and accolades is substantial.

He has a standing gig playing the piano at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital’s south tower lobby and holds a volunteer job assisting at a local CiCi’s Pizza through his school program, he’s helped his high school’s concert orchestra win a “Spirit of Washington, D.C.” award early this year, and he took the same general education classes offered to all students at Berkley High. He has even been paid to play.
He may also travel to the famed Carnegie Hall with the school’s concert orchestra in March, although school administrators have yet to make a concrete decision.

Through the mini-concert role at Beaumont, which began in August, Lance has garnered a small following and will often get requests from patients who come down every day to hear him. His repertoire is growing daily, but he plays mostly classical numbers — such as “In a Gentle Rain” by composer Robert W. Smith — and, on occasion, pop duets like Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” said Barnett.

Coping with constant challenges

Lance was diagnosed with autism when he was a 7-year-old. Since then, it’s been a constant challenge for him to navigate through a day filled with change, noises and busy surroundings, often while suffering through seizures.

These days, however, he’s able to cope “just like you or I would,” said Sheri Sienkiewicz, para-educator for the Berkley School District and Lance’s care professional of 13 years.

Lance’s life has also been a series of moving parts that have come together thanks to more than a few loving people. However, he grew up in a largely silent world. Even though he has his hearing, not much noise came from his home due to his parents’ deafness, save his brother, Stefan, who has no impairments.

Love has been another, possibly more important tool that has helped further Lance’s process of becoming an adult, Sienkiewicz said.

The complex communicative relationship the 22-year-old shares with his parents is “the most fascinating thing ever,” she explained.

Because his parents cannot hear, they communicate via sign language. But since Lance is without his eyesight, his mother and father communicate with him through sign language symbols — which they taught him at a young age — drawn with a finger on his hands.

Changing role

As Lance continues his move to the post high school program, what his role in the Berkley concert orchestra will be remains a question mark.

But since Lance’s introduction into the group five years ago, he has uniquely inspired students in the concert ensemble, said orchestra director John Robertson.

“The entire orchestra has benefited by seeing what he can do with the piano, in spite of his disabilities,” said Robertson. “Since he’s been with us, (the attitude of the orchestra) is noticeably better and different.”

Berkley School District Special Education Director Jeff Montgomery said the district is still finalizing plans on how Lance will function within the orchestra, but he thinks the pending Carnegie trip could positively cap off Lance’s multiple years of being a member.

“Lance’s participation has been something that many, many people in our school community have found to be a very positive experience,” Montgomery said. “We’ve taken great pride in Lance’s participation over the years.”

Key benefits

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in 88 American children lie on the autism spectrum, a statistic that has grown gradually over the years.

Barnett, who is contracted through Berkley, contends that learning through music has improved Lance’s socialization, cognition and communication skills.

“Music has been the key to developing independence and socialization, which are two key elements where he’s at in his life,” Barnett said.

Academic research — not just Barnett’s personal experience, she said — has agreed that music is therapeutic and benefits those with autism.

A 2004 study by Jennifer Whipple, published in the Journal of Music Therapy, stated music used with children and teens can improve social behaviors, increase focus, increase vocalizations and reduce anxiety.

Barnett also pointed to an informational paper published by the American Music Therapy Association in 2012, which notes, “The rhythmic component of music is very organizing for the sensory systems of individuals diagnosed with autism.

“As a result, auditory processing and other sensory-motor, perceptual/motor, gross and fine motor skills can be enhanced through music therapy.”

While it’s unclear if Lance will be able to travel with Berkley’s orchestra next year, Barnett said he’s been the case-in-point to all of the research done on music therapy’s affect on those with autism.
“His story’s such a great one, and we have so many people to thank for helping him along the way,” she said. “(People close to Lance) understand, but others don’t understand what a great joy music is for him.”

Barnett owns a practice, Songs To Grow On, which provides music therapy out of her personal home. Visit her website at songstogrowon.com.

Staff writer John Turk covers the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, police and general assignment. He can be reached at 248-745-4613.

About the Author

John Turk covers the police beat and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for The Oakland Press. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Reach the author at john.turk@oakpress.com
or follow John on Twitter: @jrturk.